Tamara Greenwell, communications, 360-905-2056
Joanna Lowrey, project engineer, 360-442-1350
ONALASKA – Over the last three years, travelers on State Route 508 have used a temporary Bailey bridge to cross the Newaukum River east of Onalaska in Lewis County. However, the use of the temporary single-lane bridge will be ending soon.
On Tuesday, April 24, the Washington State Department of Transportation and its contractor Oregon State Bridge Construction Inc. will begin work to replace the aging structure with a new two-lane concrete bridge.
“We’re excited that this project will not only build a new bridge that can safely carry the weight of modern day traffic,” said Project Engineer Joanna Lowrey, “but it will also maintain a link to Washington’s past, by preserving the steel pony trusses from the historic bridge.”
The existing South Fork Newaukum River Bridge is at the end of its useful life. To keep traffic moving safely until a replacement work is complete, WSDOT first weight restricted the bridge by prohibiting heavy loads to reduce stress on the steel support structure. A routine inspection found additional deterioration and a temporary Bailey bridge was placed over the top of the aging bridge span three years ago.
Preserving historic bridges
Construction details
Construction on this $8.5 million project is scheduled for completion in late 2018.